Moments D724: Childhood Pet Memories

Today on my drive into work I saw a man stopped with his dog on the side of the road. That's a pretty typical scenario, and I thought nothing of it, until I slowly rolled closer to the scene.

As I slowly crept in traffic, I had a chance to watch this beautiful golden retriever play with very large tree branch. The tree branch looked like a small tree in and of itself and this dog was whipping its head back and forth with this "tree" hanging from its mouth.

That made me smile and think back to my childhood and the dogs we had when I was growing up. I remember them both doing similar things and always enjoying their pleasure with shaking branches bigger than themselves. I swear, if the dogs could smile, they would have been!

A silly moment, but one that not only made me smile, but it had me remember days when I was a young lass.

Those were good, simple days.

Moments smiling at silliness.

Moments enjoying memories from your childhood.

Moments D718: Home Equity & Consumer Loans - SOLD

 This evening on my way home from work, I made my way over to the local pet store.  You see, with Heini away, I'm looking in on her kitty.  With such short notice of her departure, she doesn't have enough food for the poor guy, and so I set out to find some.

Not so interesting, but it does explain why I didn't head straight home to study for my coming final exam.  Wednesday is coming too fast!

The moment that stands out today is during this ride from Heini's apartment to the pet store.  This isn't my normal trek home, nor is it one where I am looking for a vet along the way.  (Kitty's food is a prescription diet.) So, of course, I saw something I've never seen before, on nearly my front doorstep.

It was a store front for Home Equity and Consumer Loans and in the front window was a sign that said it was "FOR SALE" and just under that, a big orange sticker on the window sharing that it was a POWER OF SALE.

Of course, I had a good giggle to myself. Of course a company that was set up for home equity and consumer loans was being sold under a power of sale. OF COURSE!

(For those of you who don't know what a power of sale is when a mortgage contract authorizes the lender to sell the property in the event of default (i.e when the mortgage payments are missed), in order to repay the mortgage debt.)

See the irony?  The company was lending out money to customers based on the equity in their home (i.e payments made towards the principal cost of the home) which essentially increasing the overall mortgage on the home so customers can buy more stuff.  That's one of the worst kind of loan to offer as risk management is a tough to estimate.  (After all, money spent on "stuff", typically is not used as an investment, it ends up being a loss and the customer ends up struggling to pay off debt.  Add in possible changes in the value of a home and it's rocky!)  So - are you surprised that the business is being sold as a power of sale?

Nope.  Me neither.  

And it made me giggle for a couple of reasons:

Moments seeing the irony in a financial business being sold under a power of sale.
Moments knowing that most people won't find this overly amusing.  

Moments D685: Jamaica Clocks

This morning, bright and ugly (after all, I think we hit the bed around 2am after our late arrival!) the family, EQ and I were up early to meet up with our Nolitours representative Amelle.  We were all eager to hear about the offerings of the resort and what other day trips/tours that were available to us.

And though the rest of the day ended up being a very delicious lazy day at the beach, with a permanent drinks in hand, the moment that made me smile the most, surprisingly, came from this early morning meeting.

Amelle was thorough in her explanation of what the Sunset Jamaica Grande could offer us.  From free onsite kayaking to offsite tours for a small fee, she had answers to many questions.  She even had an answer for a question I asked from the audience:

"Why are there no clocks in the rooms?"

Amelle's explanation:  The outlets in our rooms were look the same as those we had at home (110 volts) but they actually cycle slower at 50 HZ.  As everyone in the audience looked around quizzically at one another, Amelle stood patiently at the front of the room.  Then, with a wink, she continued her explanation:  because the cycles were slower, digital clocks were unable to keep proper time and would always run late.  Yes, that's right, always run late.  Therefore, there really was no point in keeping digital clocks in the room when they didn't keep proper time.  She joked that we're on vacation and we shouldn't mind the time anyway!

I found it rather amusing because there is a stereotype that Jamaicans are always late.  It all makes perfect sense.  It's not them, it's their electricity causing the lateness after all, the slow cycling of digital clocks keeping slow time certainly isn't helpful to keeping on time!

Silly, enlightening moments.

Moments enjoying a silly wink.

Moments realizing how, over time (sorry for the pun!) stereotypes can be formed.

Moments D652: Flight and Luffy

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but for me, there are days when I tend to have difficulty speaking.  Forgotten words, words that come out garbled or mumbled and worse yet, words that get all tangled up in themselves.

Today was one of those days for me.  I don't what was with me!  For the life of me, I just couldn't speak properly.

The best garble of the day:  "Flight and Luffy"

Of course, I meant to say:  "Light and Fluffy".

But I couldn't.  Believe me.  I tried.  During the conversation I was having, not only did I say it once, twice, but three times.  After a full-on belly laughter moment for messing up those words, we tried to continue the conversation.

And I did it again.  Twice.  Flight and Luffy.

I gave in to another round of giggles.  Hard not to really.  I figure, in the end, the message of light and fluffy still comes across, right?

But out of curiosity, I looked up Luffy online.  "A half minded hero....a rubber man that uses really cool moves."

Perfect.  Flight & Luffy.

Moments lost in your words.

Moments lost in silliness.

Moments D645: Checkerboards

Sometimes all you need is a crazy cupboard setup to make you smile.  Today, when I went to grab something from the pantry, this is what I found:

Yes.  That's right.  I have black toilet paper.  EQ took the time to set it up in a checkerboard in the pantry.

How awesome is that?

What a great little smile to come home to.

Moments of surprise.

Moments that make you smile for no real reason!

Moments D609: Memories of a little girl

After a day of many adventures, the four of us headed to the Jazz bar to enjoy a set of  The Bart Walker Band before calling it a night.  First, before I share my moment of the day, I have to say that Bart and his crew were intense and sounded amazing.  Please do go and check out his smooth and gravelly bluesy sound!

Today's moment arrived while the four of us were sitting, feeling the music and enjoying a glass of wine.  A young father and his daughter came into the bar.  They sat in the third row from the stage, just in front of EQ, my parents & I.  If I had to guess, the daughter was likely 7 or 8 years old.  She was a petite thing and was quick to sit and curl her legs under her and lean into her father as they sat down.

Dad wrapped an arm around her curled up body and held her close.  The two of them swayed to the music Bart and his crew shared with us.  It was a special moment for me because it brought a flood of memories back to me.

Daddy's little girl.  Even at nearly 40, I'm still Daddy's little girl and I remember moments that he and I shared just like this when I was actually a little girl.

I was a lucky child that way.  My parents took me places that some parents wouldn't dare to bring children. (as this father did).  I suppose part of the reason they were confident enough to do that is because my brother and I were (mostly!) well behaved children.

And so, as I watched that father and daughter sit and watch the band, I couldn't help but to think back to 32 years ago and remember when my own father and I enjoying music together.  Sitting beside him on the piano bench as he played piano, singing along to tunes in the car, and even starting up chants and jingles while in a restaurant!  We were a silly fun young family.

And you know what?  We're still a silly fun family.  Just older now.

Moments enjoying music with family.

Moments remember enjoying music and family 32 years ago!

Moments D573: Family laughter

Today EQ & I met my Mom & Dad in Burlington (half way from their house to our house) for lunch.   Why on earth did we do that?  Well, it was important to my Mom & Dad to have some time with EQ before he heads back to SoCal.  Yes.  He's had some impact on my circles.  That's what happens when you have an amazing man enter your world.  Your amazing world shifts and envelopes him with their love and light too.

But I digress from today's moment. My moment today happened as we were finishing up our lunch. 

As a child, my family used to sit together for dinner well until I was in my mid/late teens.  It wasn't simply a tradition of sitting and eating, no, dinner was always a place of conversation, shared stories and, often, a lot of laughter.  So much laughter that there were nights that we left the dinner table with full bellies that hurt from all the laughter.

Not 20 minutes after sharing that family memory with EQ, did we have a reenactment of said experience.

My Dad, the jokester he is, dropped a blur of words on my Mom that had us all a wee shocked, which was followed quickly by deep, rolling, belly laughter.  It didn't take long before my Mom, bright red, was wiping the laughter tears from her eyes and each of us struggled to swallow the galloping laughter.  There were pauses of laughter, but all it took was one small look from one to another at the table to engulf the entire table in laughter again.  We laughed so hard and for so long that our faces and stomachs hurt!  

And, as we are known to do, we were not quiet about it.  Not even in the very busy restaurant!  

So much so, that our server, whom we had already paid, dropped by to make sure we were all okay.  Of course, this only caused another round of laughter between us all.

No there was nothing "funny" in the water.  We're just silly people enjoying what we can out of life.

Why not right?  Life is too short.

Moments being silly.

Moments inflamed with belly-aching laughter that follows you for the rest of the day.

Moments D570: Thai Milk Ice Tea

Today's moment comes from a silly moment at dinner.

Tonight EQ and I had dinner with two of his friends at a Thai restaurant near Ryerson University called Sabi Sabi.  While I've never been there before, it came highly recommended by our surprise guest.  After enjoying some delightful Thai tapas there, we shouldn't be surprised at how busy they were so early on a Thursday night.  (Next time we'll know to make a reservation!)

But today's moment stumbled onto me.  It was when we first sat at our table.  I ordered a Thai milk iced tea right off the top.  EQ has never had one, so his friend explained what they were.  When my iced tea arrived, our friend ordered one.  EQ tried mine.  When our friend's iced tea arrived, EQ ordered one for himself.

The poor server.  I'm sure she thought we were a little nuts.  It was fun to see the spreading confusion on her face as we ordered each drink individually.

What a fun, silly moment.  I love those.

Moments being unorganized.
Moments leading to a smile all around.

p.s. The food and atmosphere of the restaurant was great.  Given that it's so close to where I'll be taking classes again come January, I'm sure I'll be revisiting them again!

Moments D489: Water Fight

Today my brother and his family came over for a visit as they were unable to attend the BBQ yesterday.  I was grateful that they made the time to come out because otherwise EQ wouldn't have had a chance to meet my brother, my sister-in-law and my two very beautiful nephews.  What a treat he was in for!

After watching the video of my youngest nephew's Karate testing for his purple belt, we sat and watched a few more videos of the boys.  From karaoke to sledding in the winter!  What fun!  The laptop on my lap, both nephews beside me on one side and EQ on the other.  What an incredible moment with lots of giggles and full on laughs.  But it quickly got much, MUCH better and that trumped this mini moment of the day.

The best moment of the day was when my oldest nephew handed over the laptop to my brother and then looked at me, with a glint in his eye, and said, "I'm going to get my water gun and I'm going to squirt you until you are very wet."   WATER FIGHT!!

Well, well, well.  Really?

And so, I took off my sunglasses, set aside my pretty straw hat and tied back my hair.  I then made my way into the backyard as I watched both my nephews fill their water guns.  Before I knew it the three of us were running around the yard hooting and hollering.  Then my Mom handed me a water bottle.  It didn't have quite the range of the water guns, but it certainly helped my stand against the two boys!  

And then, something magical happened.  EQ joined in on the water fight.  The boys chasing him, all of them ganging up on me, and then my nephews and I ganging up on EQ.  So much fun! And boy, oh boy what a water fight it was!  I wonder what the neighbours thought at all the hoopla!  By the end of it all, each of us was completely soaked.  So much so that all our clothes (undies included) needed to be put into the dryer before we could sit and eat dinner.  Such silly fun.  What a way to warm one's soul!

It was a perfect way to spend some quality time with my nephews and for them to really engage with my boyfriend.  In the end, I think he passed in their young eyes too as they both gave him a hug when they left later that evening.

Moments enjoying playtime with one's nephews.

Moments being surprised and falling a little more in love with your boyfriend.

Moments D546: Chasing the seagulls

Today was a near perfect day.  So many moments.  So many laughs.  So many opportunities to share a story, a spoonful of ice cream, or a gulp of watered down lemonade.

My favourite moment of the day wasn't touring the museum of Science and Industry (though it was a lot of fun and very interesting - I highly recommend visiting it!), it was walking along the beach with EQ.

Having spent the afternoon indoors watching the rains roll through, it was refreshing to be outside and soaking in the heat from the sun.  The sun was low in the sky (the golden hour) and we were both glowing  in the sun's light. After a few fun pictures in the sun we happened across a flock of seagulls.

And I just couldn't help myself - I had to go chasing through them!  Running through them waving my arms was a lot of fun and worth sharing.  The seagulls starting flying all around me.  See the picture!  How much fun is this?

It totally made me smile.  It made my boyfriend smile.  What more can a girl ask for?

Moments being present and being silly.

Moments enjoying the beach post rain storms.

Moments D406: My two cents, now worth five

It’s a small notion, a simple shift in perspective, but it certainly made me smile.

Surely you've heard the term “put my two cents in” when sharing an idea with others. Well, here in Canada, we've done away with pennies. Prices are now rounded up to the nearest 5 cents.

And so, my two cents worth, are now actually valued at five.

Better yet, next time you ask me “A penny for your thoughts?” you’d best be ready with a nickle.

Moments of being silly.

Moments wondering if in a decade or three the saying really will change?

Moments D274: Oars

Yes, you read correctly. Oars.

Today’s moment happened while I was at volleyball. We have been playing at this school since September. Every Thursday. You would think that I would have noticed the oars sooner. But, it is all about the timing.

Today when I left to fill up my water bottle, I found myself locked out of the gym. I had to walk around the big school hallways to get to the front doors again.

It was on this little jaunt that I noticed them. There 8, maybe 10 oars hanging up near the ceiling. They were vertical and each had an inspirational word painted on it. Empathy; Honesty; Honour; Courage…

It made me smile. It was a simple moment, but one that caught me by surprise. I really love those moments most.

Moments D236: Horse Eyes

Today I went to see a plastic surgeon for a lipoma in my back. It’s not very big, nor would most see it, but it bothers me when I’m working out and I've had it for a few years now.

The doctor that I was a very sweet gentle soul with a huge sense of humour. He asked me if I had any children. When he found out I hadn't, his response: GOOD! That’s not a typical response and I must admit it was a breath of fresh air. It certainly got us off to a good start!

After inspecting my lipoma we discussed age spots. I have one appearing on my face and so I took off my glasses and showed him. He literally pulled me into the light to see, tilted my head by my chin to find the right angle to best see and when I turned to look at him as he explained possible procedures he said “Wow, you really have beautiful eyes. Ha. It’s like I’m inspecting a horse. How are your teeth.” Random. But VERY funny - we both had a chuckle!

A moment to laugh with a stranger.

A moment of silly.

Moments D178: Pumpkins Take2 - Pig Races

Today was a cool day that was threatening to rain the entire day. BUT that didn’t stop us from heading to the pumpkin farm in Fonthill that as well known for its fair-like atmosphere as much as its known for its pumpkins. Howell’s Family Farm a great place to spend the afternoon!

But the moment didn’t surface during the pumpkin & apple sling shot (OMG, so much fun and many smiles) nor while picking out the perfect pumpkin for myself (x2) and for a friend of mine. No, no. The best moment was the PIG RACES!



It was so much fun to see the pigs squealing their way around the mini-track. But the most fun and smiles were when the rain came and we watched the host & hostess of the races try to corral the pigs who stopped racing and started digging for worms. Oh my. So many giggles. So much laughter.

Yes today was all about the piggies!

Moments of silliness.

Moments in the rain.

Moments D139: Jack Crickets

Today was the end of my brief mini-vacation with myself. As usual, time seemed to fly by and I was surprised as I wasn’t sure how spending three days on my own would really go. (i.e. would they drag out or would they zip by? - they zipped!)

Today’s moment is actually two separate moments. I can’t help myself - I need to share both! And instead of Jiminy Cricket we end up with Jack Cricket! (Yes, silly fun!)

While this morning was focused on work I managed to get out to the sun and pool by 2pm. I laid their and read and soaked in the sun’s warmth. At one point, I am enjoying the silence and the next I’m enjoying the chorus of crickets chirping. As I turned over I stopped to pull out my water bottle from my bag. My bag slightly moved and the cricket’s song paused. I merely thought that was because of the sound my bag made on the ground. But as I lifted up my bag to bring it closer to me I noticed the cricket. It was hiding under my bag! Here it was, that entire time right beside me singing away. What a glorious moment that was which brought a big smile to my face and few kind comments for the cricket.

Later, on my way home, I was passed by a pickup truck. On its windows at the back are two decals of one of my most favourite characters of all time. Jack Skellington. Like this one:

For me it was a sign of a wonderful weekend meant to be for me. It too brought a huge smile to my face as I headed home. A great way to end my weekend adventure.

Thus the blog of Jack Crickets!

Moments of silence and warmth.

Moments of song.

Moments to smile and appreciate.

Moments D137: Decals

Today has been an incredibly introspective, lazy day. Waking later than normal after crashing last night later than normal, my day had a slow start. I have had much time to myself with my thoughts and emotions. I must say: “Bravo me for enforcing the boundary.”

It hasn't been easy for me to keep my isolation and focus on me today as I had planned, but at the end of the day, I’ve managed to do just that.  It’s been a good day. It’s been an interesting journey through time, emotions , wants and needs.

But today’s special moment is actually a silly one. With so much seriousness and depth, I felt it was necessary to do something silly for myself. While out I stopped at the local drug store and picked up some nail polish and nail decals. I’ve never used nail decals before, but today they were on sale and there were dragonflies in the package. And so, this evening I painted my nails and added the cute and silly decals to my nails. When I look at them, I smile and giggle a wee bit. It’s silly but it makes me smile. Dragonfly decals. Yes. That’s my moment today. My moment that stole me away from the seriousness – it was like a breath of fresh air.

Moments to be silly.

Moments of fresh perspectives.